This paper presented a comparison of flow structures in a newly designed circulating-turbulent fluidized bed (C-TFB), which has a high solids holdup and solids flux, with two commonly used fluidized beds reactors (circulating fluidized bed (CFB) and turbulent fluidized bed (TFB)). Experimental results included instantaneous solids concentration and particle velocity, and local solids flux. Results indicated that the flow behavior in the C-TFB possessed both similarities and differences with the TFB and high-density CFB. Many distinct advantages of the C-TFB flows were found. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.